Railway-switch.



no. 655,449. Patented Aug. 7, |900. A.y noEcKEL. RAILWAY SWITCH.

(Application led Apr. 22, 1899.)

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'UNITED STATES PATENT OEE-rcs9 lARATINE G. HOEGKEL, OF DETRGIT, MICHIGAN.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECFIGATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 655,449, dated August 7, 1900. Application filed April `22, 1899. Serial No,'714,008. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t uta/y concern: 4

Beit known that I, AEATINE G. MOECKEL, a citizen of Germany, residing at Detroit, in the county ot Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railway-Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to switch mechanism for railway-tracks and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particu-l larly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch construction in which the arrangement is such as to allow for a free and unobstructed movement of the movable member of the switch and to provide against the clogging of said movable member by the accumulation of dirt or snow and ice. This object is attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved switch. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch, showing the movable member swung to a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section as on line 4t 4 of Fig. 3.

In illustrating this invention but one rail ot' the track is shown.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the rail of the main track, and B the rail of the intersecting track. These rails are of the grooved pattern in common use'.

C designates the bed-plate of the switch, which is let into the ground between the opposed ends of the rails of the track and is provided with a central concavityD, in which is located the movable member of the switch. In the upper face of the bed-plate, on each side of the central concavity, is a depression a. Said depressions extend longitudinally of the plate and are provided with a'i'lat bottom and a continuous outer inclined wall a. Crossing the end portions of the bed-plate arc grooves Z2, which are adapted to register with the grooves in the intersecting rails. The movable member of the plate comprises a rectangular body portion E, adapted to lie within the concavity D in the bed-plate and having a central integral tongue F, spaced from the walls of said plate, so as to form a way c on either side thereof for the iiange ofthe wheels,

'which ways register with the grooves b in the central concavityD to prevent any obstruct-V ing object from falling into said concavity. These wings are equal in thickness to the depth of the depressions a, in which they lie, so that the upper faces of said wings stand on a horizontal plane with the outer margins of said bed-plate. The marginal edges of said wings f throughout their entire length are beveled, as shown at i, forming a sharp edge, which is adapted to cut under any ac cumulation oi' snow or ice which might form in the depressions a in the bed-plate and impede or arrest the movement of the member E of the switch. These beveled edges of said wings entering under said obstructing formation loosen it and carry it upward out of said depression as the movable member of the switch is swung from side to side, the beveled outer edges a' of said depression al'- lowing any accumulated matter loosened by the wings f to be shoved out of said depression as said wings travel forth and back in their movement, thereby insuring at all times a free operation of the switch.

To guide the free end of the movable member of the switch in its swinging movement, a pin g (see Fig. 4) is employed, which projects downwardly from the under face of said member and engages in a slot in the bedplate. (Shown by dotted line h in Fig. 2.

With the parts in the position shown in IOO Fig. l, a car traveling upon the rail A will move straight along said rail. Should it be desired, however, to switch the car onto the track B, the movable member of the switch is swung so as to cause the tongue F to stand in the position shown in Fig. 3, when the ange of the wheel will be directed by said tongue onto the rail B, as is well understood. The movement of the swinging member of the switch may be accomplished in any suitable manner.

Having thus fully set forth this invention, what is claimed is l. In a switch the combination of the bedplate having a central concavity therein, intersecting rails joined to said plate, a movable member pivoted within the concavity in the bed-plate having two laterally-extending flanges which project on t-o and at all times lie upon theV surface of said bed-plate to completely yclose said concavity, said movable member having a centrally-disposed tongue and a longitudinal channel on each side of said tongue.

2. In a switch the combination of the bedplate havinga central concavity, intersecting rails joined to said plate, a movable switch member pivoted within said concavity, a depression in the upper face of said bed-plate having a solid bottom and outwardly-beveled walls, said movable switch member havinga centrally-disposed tongue witha channel on each side thereof, said laterally-extending Wings lyingin said depressions and'closin g the concavity in the bed-plate, the edges of said win gs being provided with acontinuous bevel extending the entire length thereof, substanflanges which project onto the horizontal surface on each side of the concavity of said bedplate to close said concavity, said flanges having continuous beveled edges, substantially as set forth.

4. In a switch the combination of the bedplate having a central concavity and extending sides having'a Vhorizontal recess therein leading from the edge of said concavity, Ya movable member comprising a rectangular body portion adapted to l-ie within the concavity in the bed-plate and having a `cent-ral integral tongue spaced from the wal-ls -fof the body portion to form a way on each :sidefof said tongue, sa-id body .portion valso having horizontal wings projecting laterally from the vertical sides of the angular bodyportion and lying in the depressions in the upper face of the bed-plate to -a-ll times close -the concavity therein. Y

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ARATINE VGr. MOECKSEL.

Witnesses:

F. J. PEDDIE, E. S. WHEELER. 

